Wednesday, December 28, 2011

SHARKBASTARDTERRORCULT Interview #4: Cannabis Corpse

SBTC:We all know CANNABIS CORPSE has been following a line when it comes to album titles, most specifically tweaking original CANNIBAL CORPSE album titles into weed themed tales of death. But my question is: Why didn't you start with Eaten Back To Life?

Cannabis Corpse:When we began recording 'Blunted...' we didn't think we'd be recording a full LP, let alone several. We didn't want to approach this band as a complete chronological mimickery, but rather as a death metal homage to all of Cannibal Corpse's brilliance and to all Tampa Death and beyond. The altar had merely been prepared! The sacrifice was only starting to scream and a pulverizing string of musical murders became imminent.

SBTC:I saw you guys posted an unreleased Cannabis Corpse song on MySpace for free download some time ago, "Covered With Seeds". Which I personally think is a fantastic song. Why wasn't it included in Tube of the Resinated?

Cannabis Corpse:It was demoed out when we began writing for TotR, but we withheld it along with other songs and deposited them in our Ganj-vaults. We liked it a lot too, but just decided on the tracks that appear on the album. Maybe one day we'll blow the keefy dust off of some of these lost nugs and reveal them on an LP.

SBTC:Who created the awesome bud monster? I met that monstrosity at your Halloween show in Oakland and it hugged me, it was pretty mindblowing. How did he come to be?

Cannabis Corpse:The dude that runs Robotic Empire (who released the TotR LP) is married to an awesome gal who custom builds 'Furry' costumes for Fur fetishists. One day when we were over at their place, she surprised us with what she had made, and we nearly plummeted into madness with psychedelic excitement! Since then the bud-monster has become increasingly thrashed from the relentlessly crushing live death-pits!

SBTC:What has been your favorite Cannabis Corpse performance and why?

Cannabis Corpse:That's a tough call to make; every one of them has a charm of some sort attached. Brainsqueeze was a total obliterator, especially since we got to play with and see all our buds!

SBTC:You have been a vocalist for quite a long time now, and your style ranges from VERY high pitched and original black metal vocals to low as fuck growls. What are some your main influences for these, and how have you perfected them? Are there any vocal exercises you do before singing?

Cannabis Corpse:Nah, no exercises or anything like that, I just do whatever. Maybe if I did, I'd be a bit better, but I've always thought 'metal vocal training' (or whatever) was weak and wimpy. I'm just a dude who loves punk and metal, not learning lessons and music schooling. It’s probably good to warm up before a show so that you don't destroy your voice, but between drinking and smoking and headbanging for the other bands- there isn't always a lot of time to do that. I'm influenced by both Barnes and Fischer (of course!), David Vincent, Benton, Mike Beams and Chris Reifert to name just a few American Death metal influences for CC. To shout off just a few for Battlemaster: TG Warrior, Tom Araya, Proscriptor McGovern, Apollyon, and Mikko Aspa.

SBTC:In forming Cannabis Corpse, which came first: the concept or the music?

Cannabis Corpse:Concept then shortly after, the music.

SBTC:It’s a proven fact that Cannabis Corpse will be releasing their 3rd full length album this year. What can we expect from it?

SBTC:Landphil is best known for his work in MUNICIPAL WASTE, how is the time divided between these two bands? Do you ever work on songs without him?

Cannabis Corpse:Yes, Landphil is a busy banger! We all have a bunch of projects we all work on, but we all make sure to get together in order to wage weed war on the regular! We all dig doing it so much, sometimes we end up practicing even when one of the 4 of us is on tour with another band.

SBTC:In addition to your cannibalistic weed obsessed death metal outfit, you also play in the Virginian techy black metal powerhouse known as BATTLEMASTER. "Warthirsting & Winterbound" is a real masterpiece, and I also loved the last few demos. Are there any future plans for a second full length?

Cannabis Corpse:We all love raging Battlemaster whenever we can and write new material constantly, so you can expect a hellhorde of fervorous dementia from us soon! The newest stuff is definitely our most pestilent to date.

SBTC:Even if you're not a part of it, is there any chance you could tell us what is DEATHCRUSH (VA) and who is involved in it?

Cannabis Corpse:It’s a Mayhem tribute band that Hallhammer, Landphil and a bunch of other demonically damaging musicians put together for a more recent annual evil metal fest in Richmond called "Heart of Winter". They played songs from 'Deathcrush' and 'De Mysteriis...' and were certainly a crushing homage to two infernally timeless records!

SBTC:Finally, although we might be missing the obvious, none of our inner circle can figure out which Cannibal Corpse songs the title of 'Shit of Pot Seeds' is based around, would you please enlighten us on the subject?

Cannabis Corpse:'Pit of Zombies' is the number you're talking about. It's about having weed growing in your guts and its inevitable violent exit, fuck!